Region 3 was the most tightly contested race in the highest classification entering this week, and Westlake emerged as a big winner on Friday. And the Lions can thank co-leader Newnan for much of that.
(Newton, not to be confused with Newnan, got a similar present in Region 2. Read on.)
Newnan (7-2, 5-1) took a 21-17 victory over arch-rival East Coweta (7-2, 4-2) after Marquis Hill scored on a 78-yard run in the final five minutes. That left Newnan, Hughes (5-4, 5-1) and defending champion Westlake (7-2, 5-1) at the top, and Westlake has beaten the other two. Westlake’s loss came to East Coweta on Oct. 2.
So Westlake, a 41-6 winner over South Cobb on Friday, can win the title win a victory next week over Campbell (2-7) while Hughes and Newnan play for second place.
Lots more was made clearer in region races Friday. Here is more news by region …
-Mill Creek (9-0, 7-0) moved one victory from its first 10-0 regular season and region championship by beating No. 10 Norcross 24-0. Mill Creek plays No. 6 Peachtree Ridge (7-2, 7-0) next week for the 7-AAAAAA championship.
-Tucker beat Lovejoy 31-21, which put 2-AAAAAA into a three-way tie among those two and Newton, all at 3-1 in region play. Lovejoy could’ve won the title with a victory, but now Newton holds the tiekbreaker edge and can clinch next week against Rockdale County (2-7).
Region 1
Colquitt County and Camden County won to set up their region title game next week in Kingsland. It’s the first time that two 9-0 teams have played each other in Region 1 since defending state champ Valdosta beat Tift County in 1983. Tift won a rematch two weeks later and won the state title. Meanwhile, Valdosta beat Lowndes 17-7 and will get the #3 seed with a victory next week over Lee County. Still much to be decided there, though. Lowndes and Lee County are still alive.
Region 2
Tucker beat Lovejoy 31-21, which means the region race is a three-way tie among those two and Newton. And it’s Newton that holds the tiebreaker edge and the chance to clinch the title next week vs. Rockdale County (2-7). Lovejoy could’ve clinched with a victory.
Region 4
North Paulding upset North Cobb 33-31, which probably didn’t do much for North Paulding (3-7, 3-3) but to end the season on a good note. Hillgrove (6-3, 4-1), on the other hand, is thrilled by the news because now the Hillgrove-McEachern game next week is for the region title. (Before, it a Hillgrove victory would’ve merely forced a three-way tie at the top that McEachern likely would’ve won.) Now, North Cobb (4-5, 3-2) is out of the way.
Region 5
-No surprises among the top contenders Friday. Roswell (9-0, 7-0) plays at home next week against Etowah (8-1, 6-1). Walton (8-1, 6-1) also lies in wait. Trying to get confirmation on this, but it appears that Roswell would win the region even if the Hornets lose to Etowah – unless Walton slips and loses to Cherokee, making Etowah-Roswell at two-way tie.
Region 6
Lambert (8-1) and South Forsyth (8-1) both won on Friday, setting up their region title game next week. Lambert has never won a region title. South Forsyth hasn’t won a region title since 1997.
Region 7
No. 5 Mill Creek (9-0) blanked No. 10 Norcross 24-0. So it’s Mill Creek vs. No. 6 Peachtree Ridge for the title next week, and Norcross vs. Collins Hill to decide third/fourth. Mill Creek, opened, in 2004, has never won a region title nor finished a regular season 10-0.
Region 8
Central Gwinnett’s 28-14 victory over Parkview was the most significant on Friday. It looks like things are going to finish #1 Grayson, #2 Archer, #3 Central Gwinnett and #4 Parkview/Dacula winner next week. Also, Dacula moved its game against No. 3 Archer to Saturday night after a Friday morning traffic accident that took the life of Dacula student Jared Brown and seriously injured his 15-year-old brother. The rescheduled game will begin at 7:30 p.m.
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